Recipe for Elder Abuse

http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/assisted-suicide-recipe-for-elder-abuse/article_261d7ce0-3e1f-11e2-8f87-001a4bcf887a.html

December 04, 2012 7:45 am

Brad Williams (letter, Nov. 28) is correct, assisted suicide is not legal in Montana (Associated Press, Nov. 16). The Montana Supreme Court decision, Baxter v. State, merely gives doctors a potential defense to prosecution for homicide.

In the 2011 legislative session, Sen. Anders Blewett and I introduced competing bills in response to Baxter, neither of which passed. His bill sought to legalize assisted suicide; mine sought to eliminate the defense.

During the hearing on Blewett's bill, he conceded that assisted suicide was not legal under Baxter. He said: "under the current law ... there's nothing to protect the doctor from prosecution."

Similar statements were made by others. For example, Dr. Stephen Speckart testified: "most physicians feel significant disease with the limited safeguards and possible risk of criminal prosecution after the Baxter decision."

To view a transcript, see:  http://maasdocuments.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/blewett_speckhart_trans_001.pdf

Legal assisted suicide is, regardless, a recipe for elder abuse in which heirs are empowered to pressure and abuse older people to cut short their lives.

Assisted suicide is not legal in Montana. The potential defense to prosecution is, however, a "toe in the door," which could lead to legalization in the future. Tell your legislators that you support reversing the defense to keep assisted suicide out of Montana.

Sen. Greg Hinkle, Thompson Falls

To Board: "Even Sen. Blewett & Dr. Speckart have admitted that assisted suicide is not legal"

Subject: PLEASE Vacate Position Statement No. 20

I have written you before and I continue to request that you vacate your Position Statement No. 20. Even Sen. Blewett & Dr. Speckart have admitted that assisted suicide is not legal in Montana (see http://maasdocuments.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/blewett_speckhart_trans_001.pdf ) How can the Board make it legal?

Sandra A Wedel Great Falls, MT

Request to Retract Solicitation Letter

On April 6, 2012, attorney Craig Charlton wrote Dr. George Risi and Dr. Stephen Speckart requesting a retraction of their solicitation letter encouraging other doctors to engage in assisted suicide contrary to state law.

The letter was sent via Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested and Regular U.S. Mail.  To date, neither Dr. Risi nor Dr. Speckart have responded.  A web version of the letter is set forth below.  For the original print version, click here. 

Dear Dr. Risi and Dr. Speckart:

I represent Montanans Against Assisted Suicide & For Living with Dignity.  We are in receipt of the enclosed letter signed by you, which was mailed to doctors in Montana.  I am putting you on notice that the letter exists, that it has been widely distributed, and that the letter has false and misleading information.